Autographic register



Feb. 17, 1959 J. H. KROEMER ET AL 2,873,983

AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1955 INVENTOR. JOHN T. DAVIDsON JOHN H. KROEMER n mw Feb. 17,1959 J. H. KROEMER ET AL 73,

AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Filed Feb. 4, 1955 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

JOHN T. DAVIDSON y JOHN H. KROEMER BMW United States Patent 2,873,983 AUTOGRAPHId REGISTER John H. Kroemer and John T. Davidson, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to The Standard Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 4, 1955, Serial No. 486,196 3 Claims. (Cl. 282-16) This invention relates to autographic registers, and particularly to the cabinet structure of such registers as it defines a refold compartment at the rear thereof into which one or more copies of the manifold record strip material is fed after inscription.

In autographic registers, the copy or copies of the record material fed into the refold compartment becomes a permanent record of transactions written up on the register over a period of time, as for example, one day. It is desirable that the retold compartment normally be locked so that the permanent record copies contained therein may not be tampered with. It is also desirable, however, that this locked-in copy compartment-be readily opened for removal of the permanent record copies and for reloading of the register with a new manifold record pack.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of autographic registers, whereby such registers may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more eflicient and satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide vagiety of applications, and be unlikely to get out of or er.

A further object of the instant invention is to make the retold or locked-in compartment secure against tampering while leaving it readily accessible for authorized entrance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified construction for the locked-in copy compartment whereby to make the register easy to load and unload, while still giving secure protection for the locked-in copies.

A further object of the invention is to make the locked-in copy compartment accessible through a door at the rear of the register cabinet, which door normally forms'a part of the cabinet wall.

Still another object of the invention is to' utilize closure means for the locked-in copy compartment as a means operative also to prevent lifting of the writing table except when the register has been opened for loading and unloading of the record material.

A further object of the invention is to provide an autographic register possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation as here inafter described or illustrated in the accompany drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 isa view in perspective of an autographic register constructed in accordance with the instant inven- "ice tion, showing the access door to the locked-in copy compartment open;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section of the register of Fig. 1, showing the locked-in copy compartment;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the rear of the register shown in Fig. 1, with the access door to the locked-in copy compartment closed;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the front of the register shown in Fig. 1 with the housing removed;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the register, similar to Fig. 2, showing the lid in both open and closed positions; and

Fig. 6 is a detailed fragmentary view of a portion of the register shown in Fig. 5.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, an autographic register in accordance withthe illustrative form of the invention comprises a cabinet 10 made up of a base 11, upstanding side walls 12 and 13 on marginal side edges of the base and end walls, the rear one of which is indicated at 14 and serves as the access door to the locked-in copy com.- partment. The rear end wall or door 14 is hinged at 15 to the rear marginal edge of the base 11. The upper edges of the side walls 12 and 13 support an. upper closure plate or lid 16 hinged to the side walls 12 and 13 at the rear thereof. The lid 16 is formed with an. open-l ing 17 exposing a writing table 18, and is further formed with an opening 19 through which ejected copies -of the record strip material are issued.

The record strip material normally is comprised of series connected record forms arranged in superposedmultiple copies with the resultant manifold strip folded upon itself to define a pack. A fragment of an unused record pack 22 is shownin a front supply compartment 23. The leading end of the record strip passes upwardly from the compartment 23 around the front end of the writing table 18 and then longitudinally over the writing tabletoward the rear of the register, marginal perforations in the strip being engaged by pin feeding devices 24 intermittently actuated for positive advance of the strip with accurate registration between the multiple copies thereof. The writing table 18 is hinged at its front end to the front of the cabinet as best seen in Fig. 4. The rear extremity thereof rests on the upper end of curved straps 25 which together with a vertical bracket 26 define partition means separating the supply compartment 23 from a compartment 27 at the rear of the register, which is the refold or locked-in copy compartment. The curved straps 25 are anchored to cross rods 28 and 29. They serve, with the bracket 26, as a front closure for the locked-in copy compartment and also protect the refold operation from any interference by the feed pin devices 24. I

The record strip is indicated in Fig. 2 at 31. Passing beneath a hold down bar 32, the strip is separated into a locked-in copy 33 directed to the compartment 27 and an issued copy 34 ejected from the register through the opening 19 in the closure lid 16. Separation of the strip 31 into such separate components is a function of a flutter 'plate 35 selectively interleaved with the strip copies at the time of reloading to direct one or more copies into the compartment 27 as may be desired. The plate 35 is, pivotally mounted at its base on ears 36 on the upper rear extremity of the writing table 18. The opposite or forward end of the flutter plate is inserted between the copies of the record strip 31 and effects separation thereof as described. The base of the flutter plate 35 defines with the adjacent surface of the writing table 18 a passage 37 of a size to permit passage of the component 33 of the strip 31 into the compartment 27 but not sufficiently large to admit the fingers or an instrument by which any part of the record strip material might be retracted or withdrawn from the locked-in copy compartment.

The rear end door or wall 14 is formed with a continuing portion 38 thereof which extends forwardly in the register as a closure or lid for the compartment 27, bridging the space between the wall 14 proper and the rear extremity of the writing table 18. The forward end of the portion 38 rests on the flutter plate 35. A deflector plate. 39 is welded or otherwise secured to the bottom of the portion 38 of end wall 14 and acts to guide the separated strip component 33 downwardly into the compartment 27 in a manner facilitating refolding thereof. The refold pack, indicated at 41, as it is built up by the continuously supplied strip component 33 is kept in alignment by vertical side members 42 secured to the base 11.

The side walls 12 and 13 support a rigid cross rod 43. The rear end wall or door 14 carries a cylinder type lock 44 having a key actuated bolt 45 adjusted to inter-engaging position with the rod 43 and releasable therefrom. It will be understood that in the locked position of the parts, as seen in Fig. 2, retraction of the end wall 14 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 is impossible, and, further, that access to the compartment 27 is at this time likewise impossible, all means of access to the compartment being closed. In this latter connection, it will be noted that since the flutter plate 35 is pivoted to andlies directly over the writing table 18, this table can'- not be lifted when the compartment door 14 is closed and locked. This arrangement provides further protection from tampering with the refolded locked-in copy. Release. of the bolt 45 from engagement with the rod. 43 permits the door or end wall 14 to be opened, as indicated in Fig. '1. The compartment 27 thus is accessible for removal of the locked-in copy. Also, the writing table 18 may at this time be raised to install a new supply pack 22 in the register, and the flutter plate 35 adjusted selectively to separate the components of the new strip comprising such pack.

As previously stated the upper closure plate or lid 16 ishinged to the side walls 12 and 13 at the rear end thereof. This is best seen in Figs. 1 and 5. Carried by the lid.16 on each side thereof adjacent the side walls 12 and 13 are J shaped arms 46 which extend downwardly from the lid and around the cross rod 43 for connection to a pivot 47. As shown in Fig. in dotted lines the lid 16 may be lifted and swung upwardly relative to the cabinet Without interference with the cross rod 43. The cross rod 43, however, forms a stop for the lid 16 upon engagement of the hooked portion of the arm 46 therewith when the. lid is in its upright position.

As shown in Fig. 5, the front end wall 48 of the register housing is an integral part of the lid 16 and is raised concurrently with the elevation of the lid 16. When so raised access is easily obtained to the storage compartmerit 23 for insertion of a new supply of forms 22. By this construction it is possible to insert a new supply of forms without the necessity of raising the writing table 18 as has heretofore been necessary.

The lid 16 and its integral end wall 48 may, or may not, have a lock thereon so as to retain it in closed position. The presence of a lock is not absolutely necessary in the present construction since opening of the lid 16 does not in any way permit entrance to the locked-in copy compartment 27. The end wall 14, which closes the'locked-in copy compartment 27, is still in place and retained in closed position by means of the lock 44. The forward end of the locked-in copy compartment 27 is also effectively closed by the partition 2526 previously described.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus. described our invention, we claim:

1. An autographic register, including a cabinet having a base and upstanding side walls, upwardly extending intermediate partition means defining with said side walls at one end of the cabinet a refold compartment and at the other end thereof a supply compartment, said partition means acting as a closure for the inner ends of said compartments, a closure for the open end of said refold compartment hinged to said cabinet for movement to open and close said compartment to access, a cross rod extending transversely through said refold compartment and supported between said side walls, a lever on the said closure for said refold compartment adjustable into and out of latching engagement with said rod, and a cover for said cabinet pivotally connected thereto for relative raising and lowering motions, one end of said cover being turned downward to form a closure for the open end of said supply compartment and the other end thereof extending into said refold compartment for engagement with said cross rod in a manner to limit movement of said cover in one direction.

2. An autographic register according to claim 1, char acterized in that said other end of said cover is pivotally connected to the side walls of the cabinet in said refold compartment whereby raising of said cover exposes said supply compartment for access.

3. An autographic register according to claim 2, characterized by a writing table supported on said side walls in overlying relation to said compartments, one end thereof being pivotally connected to the cabinet and the other end extending into such interengaged relation with the closure for said refold compartment as to be held from relative rocking motion on said cabinet in the closed position of the said closure for said refold compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,806,544 Krauth May 19, 1931 2,016,242 Diesbach Oct. 1, 1935' 2,035,987 Schroeder Mar. 31, 1936 2,083,265 Jensen June 8, 1937 2,149,006 Borchers Feb. 28, 1939 2,172,637 Fader Sept. 12, 1939 2,212,853 Borchers Aug. 27, 1940 2,490,390 Ward et a1 Dec. 6, v1949 

